The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-20
MINOR MENTION.

cCocOdS
pie call it, is about over, and what is here said
IAN in no way lessen box receipts, it may not
be out of place to enter a word of protest
against the recent custom of churches going
regularly into the ''show business" in order to
raise money for their depleted treasures. Dur
ing the past winter there have been entertain
ments given by many &C the church organiza-
tons in this city which have been nothing
more nor less than shows, in the common &C.
ceptation of that term Every device Of adver-
Using known to the theatrical world has been
resorted to to draw crowds, and the young
people of both sexes in the congregations have
been assigned parts, have been costumed and
until churches have become more
like schools for the stage than what they ought
to be, organizations for the promotion of NOR
atty and piety. Each church seems to have
tried to Guido the other, and the result has
been that the winter has been given over to en-
tertainments which have done the churches no
good from moral stand point, and which have
tendency to weaken the cause of religion in the
world. The money obtained in this way might
far better have been raised by more generous
donations Of individual members. and the re-
mem brance OF some self-sacrifce to help the
church would be far more satisfactory to the
Christians conscience than spending money at a
''show."
Mrs. HORACE MANN, who recently died in
Boston at an advanced age. had a curious ex-
perience in novel-writing. More than fifty
years ago Mrs. Manns mind was so aroused by
the discussions concerning slavery, which were
then beginning to agitate the country. that she
felt moved to embody her convictions in the
form of a story, several of the characters in
which were slaves and their owners. She had
finished the work long before Mrs. Stowe
thought of her great book, but delayed publica-
ton because the leading incidents were real,
the principal characters were drawn from
life, and the author. with a consideration that
does not now obtain among writer's Of fiction,
desired to hold the book back until the originals
of her creations were dead. In the meantime
Mrs. Stoves ''Uncle Toms Cabin came out,
produced its wonderful effect. and seemed to
leave no room for further efforts in that line.
Finally, when all the real characters had passed
away, and publication was again thought of, the
manuscript was found to have been mislaid, and
was not discovered until the writer's death.
The book will, probably. at this late day, create
little interest, except among Mrs Mann's per-
sonal friends, but these will speculate curiously
as to what might have been its effect had it
been issued fifty years ago.
PEOPLE in whose households lard is an impor-
tant element in the carrying on of culinary
operations are apt to favor the use of pure
article and have. therefore, read with alarm.
not unmiyed with iu6;opat;or of tho rrcoo
cealed arrangements of Chicago dealers for mix
ing fat of the hog with cotton seed oil and other
foreign substances. AS it is placed on sale as
genuine lard there seemed no way for the inno
cent purchaser to guard against buying the
aduterated article, and direful anticipatlous Of
being forced to forego the toothsome doughnut
and other fried danties have been INDUCED in
by some fastidious and fearful persons. 1t ap-
pears, however, that the Illinois lawmakers,
not having implicit confidence in the honesty of
Chicago pork-dsalers have enacted law re.
curing that STANDARD prime steam lardn shall
be solely the natural product of the hog and
that the packages containing it shall be
branded with the grade and the name
Of the maker Mr.. Armour and other
dealers might. If they were so disposed,
being honest gentlemen, and above suspicion, of
course they will not The Illinoisan, who is
particular about the quality of grease in his food,
can make his purchases with entire confidence.
MRS. JAMES BROWN POTTER, New York
lady who is obliged to work for her living, and
VINO is about to make her debut as an actress on
the English stage because she knows the Prince
of oil hocf
of her first appearance Her day first set was
March 26, but it was luckily discovered in time
that the Prince of Wales had an
other engagement for that evening.
Then March % was decided upon, but some
body remembered that the Princes father
or other relative had died on that day, and i.
being lugubrious anniversary that he would
not be able to attend theatrical festivities AS
everything depends upon the Prince being pres
ent on the opening night Mrs. Potter changed
her arrangements to conform with the con
venience of his Royal Highness. sympathetic
American public will await the important event
with interest sincerely trusting meanwhile,
that no untoward accident will occur to proven,
Wales's attendance and thus blast the prospects
of budding genius.
| SOME Ohio gentlemen who have been expert
| menting with new Illuminating system claim
| to have discovered process whereby natural o,
| artificial gas can be made to produce lich,
| that rivals electricity in briliancy. The flame
| produced after the gas has passed through theil
curiously constructed burner is said to be hun.
| dred-fold brighter than the ordinary gas light
| New York man, on the other hand
| which he expects to make housekeeper.
| forever independent Of gas and coal companies
1t is a metal box which can be placed any where
| and into which is to be thrown all the refuse o.
the house, including dust, ashes and table scraps